Physicians for Human Rights criticizes Iran for trying AIDS Doctors on secret charges

          
          P} . Criticizes Iran for Trying ADS Doctors on Secret Charges ltp://physiciarisforhunEIrlgl lsorg/ library/news-2008-12-31lthl
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          PHR Library
          December 31, 2008
          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          PHR Criticizes Iran for Trying AIDS Doctors on Secret
          Charges
          Media Contacts:
          Jonathan Hutson
          jhutson [ at] phrusa [ dot] org
          Cell: +1 857-919-5130 (English)
          The Iranian governments December
          31 triaL of Dr. Arash ALaei and Dr.
          Kamiar ALaei - Iranian brothers who
          are known worLdwide for their work
          as HIV/AIDS physicians - denied
          fundamentaL requirements of due process because, according to
          reports received by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), the prosecutor
          refused to discLose aLL the charges against the accused and denied
          their right to confront and defend themseLves against their
          accusers. The triaL today aLso sends an ominous signaL regarding the
          Iranian Governments crackdown on internationaL scientific exchange.
          PHR CAMPAIGNS
          The doctors have been heLd in Tehrans notorious Evin prison since
          Late June 2008. They were indicted in December on charges of
          communicating with an enemy government according to their
          attorney, Masoud Shafie.
          On December 31, the Iranian prosecutor tried the brothers in Tehrans
          RevoLutionary Court on these charges, and aLso informed the court of
          additionaL, secret charges which the brothers attorney had no
          opportunity to refute, because the prosecutor did not discLose either
          the charges or the evidence on which they are based.
          Irans faiLure to reveaL the nature of the secret charges against the
          doctors makes it impossibLe to determine if the charges have any
          factuaL basis,” stated PHRs CEO Frank Donaghue. He added, To aLL
          appearances, the arrest and now the triaL of these two prominent and
          wideLy-traveLed AIDS doctors seem to be an effort to shut the door on
          medicaL and pubLic heaLth coLLaboration on gLobaL heaLth crises.. .a
          poLicy that is dangerous for the weLL-being of the Iranian peopLe and
          for gLobaL heaLth.
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          03/08 2010 13:38
        

          
          P} . Criticizes Iran for Trying ADS Doctors on Secret Charges ltp://p liysiciarisforhunEIrlgl ls ,org/ library/news-2008-12-31.lt hl
          PHR stated that the pubLicLy announced charges are iLLegitimate and
          without credibLe foundation. PHR noted that there are cLear vioLations
          of due process in this case. In order to have a fair triaL according to
          the standards of internationaL human rights Law, Iran must safeguard
          the doctors right to know the evidence against them and their right to
          confront and cross-examine their accusers. A defendants right to hear
          and confront witnesses against him is a fundamentaL guarantee of Life
          and Liberty. Without knowing the evidence or even the charges against
          him, an accused person has no opportunity to heLp his attorney make
          his defense or chaLLenge the evidences reLevance or reLiabiLity.
          Iran shouLd free these brothers immediateLy, so that they can
          continue their Life-saving pubLic heaLth work for the benefit of the
          peopLe of Iran and the worLd, stated Donaghue.
          The brothers have aLready been detained two months Longer than
          Iranian penaL code aLLows, Shafie said earLier this month, in an
          excLusive interview with the InternationaL Campaign for Human Rights
          in Iran. According to Shafie, ArticLes 30-34 of the Code of PenaL
          Procedure of the IsLamic RepubLic of Iran aLLow for detentions but
          require that the investigating judge issue such detention orders for
          one month at a time and for no Longer than four months.
          The brothers are aLso LegaLLy eLigibLe for baiL, but the judge in the case
          has not issued baiL nor heLd a baiL hearing.
          Over 3,100 doctors, nurses and pubLic heaLth workers from more than
          85 countries have signed an onLine petition demanding their reLease,
          which can be viewed at lranFreeTheDocs.org . Leading physicians and
          pubLic heaLth speciaLists and numerous medicaL and scientific
          organizations have pubLicLy caLLed for the brothers reLease .
          Dr. Kamiar ALaei is a doctoraL candidate at the SUNY ALbany SchooL of
          PubLic HeaLth in ALbany, New York and was expected to resume his
          studies there this faLL. In 2007, he received a master of science degree
          in PopuLation and InternationaL HeaLth from the Harvard SchooL of
          PubLic HeaLth in Boston.
          Dr. Arash ALaei is the former director of the InternationaL Education
          and Research Cooperation of the Iranian NationaL Research Institute
          of TubercuLosis and Lung Disease. Since 1998, the Drs. ALaei have been
          carrying out HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs,
          particuLarLy focused on harm reduction for injecting drug users.
          In addition to their work in Iran, the ALaei brothers have heLd training
          courses for Afghan and Tajik medicaL workers and have worked to
          encourage regionaL cooperation among 12 MiddLe Eastern and CentraL
          Asian countries. Their efforts expanded the expertise of doctors in the
          region, advanced the progress of medicaL science, and earned Iran
          recognition as a modeL of best practice by the WorLd HeaLth
          Organization.
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          P} . Criticizes Iran for Trying ADS Doctors on Secret Charges ltp://physiciarisforhunEIrlgl lsorg/ library/news-2008-12-31lt hl
          Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) mobilizes the health professions to
          advance the health and dignity of all people by protecting human
          rights. As a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban
          Landmines, PHR shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.
          Date posted: December 31, 2008
          Last updated: June 22, 2009
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